“This is Dr. Michael Marsh, a neurologist in town for the medical conference I told you about,” Charlie said, as he rubbed Omar’s arm.
Omar visibly relaxed and greeted Michael.
“Glad to see you out and about, Mena,” Charlie said. “If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to tell us. We are here for you.”
Mena nodded her head, then avoided eye contact with Michael.
“Good to see you again, Mena. I hope we get a chance to catch up before I leave town this weekend. My offer still stands,” Michael said.
Mena raised her head and glared into Michael’s piercing hazel eyes. “I won’t be taking you up on that offer, but do hope you have a safe trip back to New York.”
Awkward silence filled the air. The waitress broke the tension and beckoned for Charlie and Michael. The two men said their goodbyes and left the table.
Regina shrieked. “What was that all about?”
“How do you know that fine ass neurologist?” Omar asked.
“Long story,” Mena said, exhausted by all the lies and the pretense. How dare Michael put her on the spot in front of her friends.
“Mena?” Regina said. “Honey, are you okay?”
“Okay, spill it. What’s going on with you and Dr. Sexy?”
“He’s …” Mena swallowed past the lump in her throat. “My … husband.”
Chapter Twenty
Regina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Omar’s mouth dropped open.
Mena looked back and forth between the two as silence stretched across the table. Neither of her best friends had moved a muscle, faces frozen in shock. The waiter approached the table with the pitcher of Palmitos and the first round of appetizers.
“Thanks, we’re definitely going to need the drinks,” Mena said.
Over the next hour, she told her best friends the unbelievable story of how she was still the legal wife of Michael Marsh. Meeting Michael was like a whirlwind romantic comedy, something too good to be true. And it was too good to be true. A year after being married to the charismatic neurologist, her world had been turned upside down when his wife, Courtney, showed up at their home. Mena had learned that not only was Michael still married to Courtney, but he had two other wives, Alexis and Emily.
As Michael’s last wife, Mena had been told her marriage to him was voided by the previous three, so she didn’t think she needed to get a divorce or an annulment. A mistake she regretted as she struggled to keep the truth from Julian.
“You must think I’m a horrible person for keeping all of this from you,” Mena said, looking down at the food she hadn’t touched.
“Start eating and let us talk now,” Omar demanded, lifting Mena’s fork and forcing it into her hand.
“You are not horrible for being lied to by your husband. Any creep that would knowingly marry more than one woman at the same time doesn’t deserve a second chance or forgiveness,” Regina said. Her face flushed red with anger.
“That slimy bastard is forcing you to stay married to him. None of that is your fault, Mena. I don’t care if you didn’t jump through all the legal hoops needed to officially annul the marriage four years ago. You are not that man’s wife!” Omar said.
“I talked to three different lawyers, Omar. Legally, I am. The worst part is that Julian doesn’t even know,” Mena said.
“Mena! That’s why you had to say no to his proposal. You want to marry him, but you can’t until your divorce is finalized,” Regina said.
Mena said, “I should have told Julian the truth then—”
“Wait a minute, now,” Omar held up a hand.
Mena frowned, then glanced at Regina.
“I’m with Omar on this one. You did the right thing by not telling Julian. Best-case scenario, he’s hurt because you lied and the two of you have to wait six agonizing months before you’re free to get married again,” Regina said.
“Worst-case scenario, he hauls off and murders the bastard for manipulating you and refusing to sign the divorce papers and spends the rest of his life on death row in Tiverton,” Omar said.
